Cashier Job Description: Duties, Skills and Template

Short answer: A cashier rings up purchases, takes payments, gives change and receipts, and helps customers at checkout. Cashiers also handle returns and exchanges, balance their cash drawer at the end of a shift, keep the checkout area clean and stocked, and answer questions about prices and promotions.

Cashier helping a customer at a store checkout — The checkout is the last impression a customer takes home.

Cashier job description template

Job title: Cashier

Reports to: Front-end supervisor or store manager

Summary: Check out customers quickly and accurately, handle cash and card payments, and give friendly service at the register.

Duties

Scan items, apply discounts and coupons, and take cash, card and mobile payments.
Count change back accurately and print or send receipts.
Process returns, exchanges and refunds according to store policy.
Count the cash drawer at the start and end of each shift and report differences.
Bag items carefully and offer help to customers who need it.
Answer questions about prices, sales and store services.
Keep the checkout lane clean and restock bags, receipt paper and impulse items.
Watch for suspicious activity and follow loss prevention procedures.

Skills and requirements

Basic math and accurate cash handling.
Friendly, patient communication, including with upset customers.
Comfort with a POS system and card readers.
Able to stand for a full shift.
Available for evenings, weekends and holidays when the store is busiest.

Hiring workers under 18? Check the federal and state rules on hours and tasks in child labor laws.

Cashier vs sales associate

	Cashier	Sales associate
Main focus	Checkout and payments	Helping customers find and buy products
Where they work	Register or self-checkout area	Sales floor and fitting rooms
Key skill	Accuracy and speed	Product knowledge and selling

In smaller stores one person often does both. See the retail sales associate job description.

Cash handling rules to include

One cashier per drawer whenever possible, so differences can be traced.
Count the drawer with a second person or on camera at open and close.
Record overages and shortages on a log, every shift.
Follow the cashier closing checklist and bank deposit log.

Under the FLSA, deductions for register shortages cannot bring a non-exempt employee’s pay below the minimum wage or cut into overtime owed, and some states ban these deductions entirely. Check your state’s rules. This is general information, not legal advice.

Schedule cashiers to your traffic

Lines form when register coverage does not match foot traffic. EZTime lets you build cashier schedules around your busiest hours, lets employees swap shifts in the app, and records every clock-in with the time clock, so drawer counts and hours line up.

Frequently asked questions

What does a cashier do?

Rings up purchases, takes payments, gives change and receipts, handles returns and keeps the checkout area ready.

What skills does a cashier need?

Accurate cash handling, basic math, comfort with a POS system and friendly customer service.

Can I deduct a register shortage from a cashier’s pay?

Federal law limits these deductions and some states ban them. Check your state’s rules before making any deduction.

Cover every register at the rush. Start your 14-day trial or book a demo.

Updated November 2026. General information only; not legal advice.